With the advent of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, and the already widespread confusion of which to go with, people sometimes forget about taking those two formats into consideration. Back in 1993 MultiMedia Compact Disc and Super Density Disc were in the run to be successors of VHS, and after Sony and Philips had abandoned their MultiMedia Compact Disc for Super Density Disk, “DVD” had been unofficially named in 1995. Now that we have been using DVDs for almost a decade, and VHS being in circulation for about a decade as well (since the ’80s), we are once again in the middle of a format “war.”

Some of you might say,” DVD is not going to die off any time soon, and I already have a large DVD selection so why should I switch to HD-DVD or Blu-Ray? Well, when DVD came out, people were unable to use their VHS movies in DVD players or in one unit that can play both unless you spent more than a thousand dollars. But since we are still using discs for media, the story is different now with the High Def formats. However, unlike DVDs where practicality and enormous differences made the switch from VHS easier to decide upon, the difference with 1080p projectors and moving to a HD movie format has to be seen to be believed. Where the switch from VHS to DVD was features and practicality, the switch from DVD to HD is quality of material. Yes there are new interactive features, and a couple of new additions to the HD formats, but the jump isn’t as significant on the features front. It’s undeniable that either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD will become the standard format in the near future, but the only thing left to decide is, “When should I move to it?”

Well, for most people the logical answer would be to wait until there is only one format. However, if you’re in the market now for a projector; either because your old one has failed, the replacement bulb has become to expensive or unavailable or are considering upgrading their current unit, it would be a good time to consider what it is you should go with. With 1080p projectors now slipping slowly under $2000, it is becoming more feasible to own a 1080p projector. Some may ask why you “need” such a projector. I’m sure we’re all aware that you don’t “need” it. But with HD players becoming cheaper all the time, I would say personally that it is a pretty good time to start “future-proofing” your home cinema experience.

Now, on which format to decide on, that’s a different story…